GAA say they are open to staging TWO All-Ireland Championships in 2021

The GAA is open to the possibility of staging two All-Ireland Championships for both hurling and football in 2021.

The organisation is wary that the chance of the 2020 editions going ahead is up in the air and Director of Communications Alan Milton expressed the possibility that they could yet be salvaged next year.

Milton was speaking to Newstalk Breakfast when he was asked about the GAA’s willingness to host two sets of inter-county championships in the one calendar year.

He said that the idea could be set for thorough examination if the GAA cannot safely stage intercounty action between now and the end of the year.

‘It’s not a harebrained scheme at all. It’s something we have flagged a long way back.

John Horan, President of the GAA at the Special Congress. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

‘It only comes into sharp focus if we can’t hold a Championship in 2020.

‘I think there would be a groundswell of appetite within the organisation to definitely have the CCC (Competitions control committee) look at this forensically and discuss whether it would be possible to hold one in the early part of 2021, and then the regular Championship perhaps pushed back a little bit in the latter part of the year.’

GAA president John Horan previously spoke of the possibility of the championship continuing into 2021, something which Milton would hope to see.

‘Again, it’s all speculation at this stage, there would have to be serious conversations had, because club activity might have to be moved a little bit too and you’ve obviously got other partners that would have to be consulted.

‘But I definitely would like to see the Championship played if it means spilling over into 2021 and the President John Horan has said that on the record as well.’

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